Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was confronted by about 15 protesters as she dined at a Mexican restaurant in the nation's capital, The New York Times is reporting.
The activists showed up at the MXDC Cocina Mexican restaurant after Nielsen arrived Tuesday night. They were protesting the Trump administration's practice of separating children from parents, who come in to the U.S. illegally.
"If kids don't eat in peace, you don't eat in peace," protesters shouted, according to video footage of the incident posted by the group, the newspaper said.
Chants of "shame" were also heard from the protesters. And one protester noted Nielsen was having dinner at a Mexican restaurant, "of all places."
A group calling itself the Metro D.C. Democratic Socialists of America took responsibility for the protest and claimed it had been tipped off to Nielsen's arrival by a diner, the Times said.
In a statement, the group said: "We will not stand by and let Secretary Nielsen dine in peace, while she is directing her employees to tear little girls away from their mothers and crying boys away from their fathers at our border."
And Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton took to Twitter to note Nielsen was having a "work dinner" when she heard from the protesters.
Meanwhile, one protester told USA Today that Nielsen did not acknowledge the group and that the activists left before police arrived.
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